Man Arrested with Possession of Illegal Gun in Worcester

A Dudley man was arrested in the area of Grafton street early Monday morning for illegal possession of a gun.

Juan Lopez, 40, charged with possession of a firearm without a license to carry, possession of ammunition without an FID Card, armed career criminal level 3, receiving a firearm with a defaced serial number, intimidation of a witness, disorderly conduct, and improper storage of a firearm.

The Incident

On the morning of Monday, December 10 at about 4:10 a.m., Worcester Police were dispatched to Cumberland Farms at 263 Grafton St for a report of a person with a gun. Officers spoke to witnesses who said that the male, later identified as Juan Lopez, 40, of Dudley, was showing the gun off to people and bragging that he did not need protection. He allegedly told witnesses not to “call the cops on him.” Officers shared the suspect description over the radio.

An officer spotted a male who matched the description further up Grafton St. When the officer went to speak with Lopez, Lopez took off running. After a brief foot pursuit, the officers located Lopez on Cutler St.

The officer following Lopez heard a “thud” during the foot pursuit, and believed that Lopez had thrown the firearm. Officers located a black handgun on Cutler St, near where Lopez was located. The firearm was loaded and Lopez did not have a license to carry firearms.